The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[AllisonK]

I saw both "Beautiful" on tour and "Waitress" in Boston last weekend. It was my 3rd time seeing "Beautiful" and my second time seeing "Waitress.'' I went to "Beautiful" last Friday and for a show that had just opened its tour three days earlier, it is in fantastic shape and the cast, especially Abby Mueller as Carole King, is VERY strong. I saw Abby's sister, Jessie, play Carole on Broadway a year and a half ago and both were different, yet equally compelling and effective performances (and I think Abby actually sounds a bit more like Carole as well... definitely interesting to compare and contrast!). If "Beautiful" is coming anywhere near you, don't hesitate to get tickets!

On Sunday I saw "Waitress" for the second time. There were no changes from the first time I saw it, but the show felt a bit tighter and paced a little better. Jessie Mueller could very well win her second Tony Award for this one next spring. This is the third show I've seen her in (the first being "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and the second being "Beautiful") and it is like watching a different actress in each role she plays, she is that good. The show could still use a bit of work before it hits Broadway in the spring but it's in good, solid shape for a show out-of-town. (My friend and I agreed that it is in MUCH better shape than "Finding Neverland" was out-of-town last summer, and "Finding Neverland" didn't get the fixing it needed when it was brought to Broadway and we were a bit disappointed when we saw it in April.)

 

[rebeccam31]

Thoughts on the Mother/son with Autism incident this week at The King and I?

Having not been there, I do not know the level of disruption that occurred, but from what I am able to read, it sounds like the mother WAS trying to address the situation. I have some familiarity with autism, and there really is often no way to predict what will trigger an episode. I have a lot of compassion for the mother and find the empathy shown by that young man to be impressive. Theater tickets ARE expensive, and obviously I would like to maximize my experience, but I hope I would be patient with a mother just trying to give her child a shred of normality and beauty. That's my take on it, anyway.

 

[rebeccam31]

I saw both "Beautiful" on tour and "Waitress" in Boston last weekend. It was my 3rd time seeing "Beautiful" and my second time seeing "Waitress.'' I went to "Beautiful" last Friday and for a show that had just opened its tour three days earlier, it is in fantastic shape and the cast, especially Abby Mueller as Carole King, is VERY strong. I saw Abby's sister, Jessie, play Carole on Broadway a year and a half ago and both were different, yet equally compelling and effective performances (and I think Abby actually sounds a bit more like Carole as well... definitely interesting to compare and contrast!). If "Beautiful" is coming anywhere near you, don't hesitate to get tickets!

On Sunday I saw "Waitress" for the second time. There were no changes from the first time I saw it, but the show felt a bit tighter and paced a little better. Jessie Mueller could very well win her second Tony Award for this one next spring. This is the third show I've seen her in (the first being "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and the second being "Beautiful") and it is like watching a different actress in each role she plays, she is that good. The show could still use a bit of work before it hits Broadway in the spring but it's in good, solid shape for a show out-of-town. (My friend and I agreed that it is in MUCH better shape than "Finding Neverland" was out-of-town last summer, and "Finding Neverland" didn't get the fixing it needed when it was brought to Broadway and we were a bit disappointed when we saw it in April.)

Oh, YAY! I have Beautiful opening my tour package this year. We'll be seeing it on Halloween. I have been looking forward to it and am very pleased to read that you love the casting. I am also really looking forward to Waitress (and for whatever reading, I have never had any interest in seeing Finding Neverland--despite LOVING the movie).

 

[rebeccam31]

One Saturday in October, I am seeing Hamilton and Spring Awakening in the same day! I am best pleased at this.

 

[AllisonK]

Oh, YAY! I have Beautiful opening my tour package this year. We'll be seeing it on Halloween. I have been looking forward to it and am very pleased to read that you love the casting. I am also really looking forward to Waitress (and for whatever reading, I have never had any interest in seeing Finding Neverland--despite LOVING the movie).

I hop you love Beautiful! It's nothing deep, but it's a fun night out at the theater! I had never seen the Finding Neverland movie before I saw the show last summer (I bought tickets to the show simply because I loved some of the cast members in previous shows) and I did like the show a lot in Boston last summer but it kind of fell flat for me in New York. (I don't know if it was because Jeremy Jordan was replaced by Matthew Morrison or what, but something didn't click) and when I finally saw the movie I didn't love it either.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Seeing it and my fiance may actually be investing in it.

That is so cool! DS wondered-will that make him one of the producers? Kinda cool to know that he'll possibly be helping to pay for her salary in the orchestra.

 

[JenM]

Thoughts on the Mother/son with Autism incident this week at The King and I?

I have so much respect for Kelvin Moon Loh and the cast for coming to the defense of this mother and her child. Messing around with cell phones and food smuggled into the theater is one thing, but the behavior of a child with autism is not something anyone predict. All reports from that performance say that she was doing everything she could to get him under control. The audience members jeering her should be ashamed of themselves.

Yes, theater tickets are expensive, and no one wants their performance interrupted. But life happens sometimes, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. If the cast was willing to stop and start over they needed to, then the audience can wait too. It’s how we help.

My best friend’s son is autistic, so I understand.

 

[JenM]

One Saturday in October, I am seeing Hamilton and Spring Awakening in the same day! I am best pleased at this.

Nice! I saw Something Rotten and Hamilton on the same day last month, and it was so much fun.

I was at the Hamilton lottery last night (and lost!), but I saw little Iain from the “Iain Loves Theatre” videos there trying the lottery with his family (they lost too!). He’s adorable.

This is his Hamilton review, if you’ve never seen an Iain video:

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

I haven't gotten to see Hamilton yet, but the Cast Recording is pretty much on 24/7 in my house nowadays. Hoping to someday win lotto although it seems daunting.

 

[rebeccam31]

I hop you love Beautiful! It's nothing deep, but it's a fun night out at the theater! I had never seen the Finding Neverland movie before I saw the show last summer (I bought tickets to the show simply because I loved some of the cast members in previous shows) and I did like the show a lot in Boston last summer but it kind of fell flat for me in New York. (I don't know if it was because Jeremy Jordan was replaced by Matthew Morrison or what, but something didn't click) and when I finally saw the movie I didn't love it either.

I have read comments by a fair number of people who seem to have much preferred Jeremy Jordan in the role.

 

[rebeccam31]

Nice! I saw Something Rotten and Hamilton on the same day last month, and it was so much fun.

I was at the Hamilton lottery last night (and lost!), but I saw little Iain from the “Iain Loves Theatre” videos there trying the lottery with his family (they lost too!). He’s adorable.

This is his Hamilton review, if you’ve never seen an Iain video:

Thanks for sharing that! I have seen his videos before but not that particular one!

 

[rebeccam31]

I saw it in September (had bought the tickets well before it opened, so they were still available and at least somewhat affordable). I decided after the first day of streaming the cast recording (which, non-stop here as well...) that my teacher friend NEEDS to see it. So I told my husband that I would like my Christmas present to be to take her to Hamilton. (Obviously it will be her Christmas present from us as well.) I managed to find 3 Orchestra seats for resale that weren't too ridiculous, so we are going and my friend Ryan who lives in Queens will come with us.

 

[JenM]

I haven't gotten to see Hamilton yet, but the Cast Recording is pretty much on 24/7 in my house nowadays. Hoping to someday win lotto although it seems daunting.

The line was wrapped around 8th Avenue for the Hamilton lottery last night. And this was on a day people stayed home because the Pope was in town!

I work a few blocks away, so I usually try the lottery on Friday nights. Sometimes I’ll show up for the lottery during the week just to watch the Ham4Ham show if they’re doing one. Last night, Lin-Manuel played “Guns and Ships” from the cast album off his phone so everyone could sing along. It was fun!

 

[rebeccam31]

Those Ham4Ham shows look like they're GREAT fun! My friend Ryan won the lottery for a ticket during opening week. He's tried many lotteries for many years, but that's the first time he's ever won one.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Frustratingly I go to school right at Lincoln Center, but my classes typically get out at 6:50- not enough time for me to make the lotto! I haven't ever tried, but I had to enter Wicked lotto 14 times before I ever won so..

 

[JenM]

I *think* there’s a new block of tickets going on sale for Hamilton next week. They’re up for Amex cardholders now, but I think the general public sale starts on Monday.

Granted, they’re for next summer...but it will still be awesome next summer.

 

[JenM]

Those Ham4Ham shows look like they're GREAT fun! My friend Ryan won the lottery for a ticket during opening week. He's tried many lotteries for many years, but that's the first time he's ever won one.

I love the Ham4Ham shows. I work in Times Square, so even if I’m not doing lotto, I try to get down there if I can to see the show. I recorded the show where the Fun Home cast performed “Alexander Hamilton” on my phone, and wound up playing it so much because the cast album was still a month away that I have to keep reminding myself that the actual recording doesn’t have the “at the light-at the light-at the light” part that Lin added at Ham4Ham (that's part of “Telephone Wire” from Fun Home).

They’re great because...obviously everyone has a shot at winning, but the crowds are so massive that the odds just aren’t good. So when they can, they give everyone a show. And the other shows are all welcome to be part of it too, so it’s just a lot of fun.

I didn’t have high hopes for a lotto win last night, but I was happy I got the chance to applaud Lin on that amazing cast recording. The crowd was pretty nuts last night, since it was Hamiltunes day.

 

[wilkeliza]

That is so cool! DS wondered-will that make him one of the producers? Kinda cool to know that he'll possibly be helping to pay for her salary in the orchestra.

So investers just gice money to someone who has the producer credit. They have very little to no say in the show.

Producers raise moneh and depending on how many producers there are theh can have a lot or a little to do with creative decisions. In the past few years the line between producer and invester has been blurred as more peoplenwho give less want a seat at tbe table.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

any theatre fans heading to Elsie fest? I am thinking of going but my friend has bailed- don't really want to go completely alone!

 

[BrdwayBoy]

any theatre fans heading to Elsie fest? I am thinking of going but my friend has bailed- don't really want to go completely alone!

I was thinking about it; but I'm not sure that I'm completely sold on the premise. :-/